Teacher Burnout: Why We Keep Going When We're Struggling

How do you keep going when life becomes difficult, but you feel you cannot step away from school? In this episode of Beat Teacher Burnout, I’m joined by Lucy and Jonathan Coy, founders of HeadteacherChat, for a powerful conversation about teacher burnout, illness, bereavement and the pressures of school leadership. Lucy shares her experience of facing a possible cancer diagnosis while continuing to work, while Jonathan reflects on beginning his first headship during a challenging time in his personal life. Their stories highlight why so many educators put their own wellbeing last, even when they need time to stop and recover. We explore the pressure school leaders face to keep going, the guilt that can come with taking time off, and why no one should feel they have to manage everything alone. In this episode, we explore: Teacher burnout and school leadership stress Managing illness and bereavement while working in education Why teachers struggle to prioritise their wellbeing The pressure to keep going when life gets difficult Setting healthy boundaries and managing stress The importance of peer support, coaching and mentoring How school leaders can build supportive professional networks How school leaders can build supportive professional networks If you are a teacher, headteacher, deputy headteacher, SENCO or education professional who feels overwhelmed by the demands of your role, this episode offers an important reminder: you can care deeply about your school and still put your health first. Watch to hear Lucy and Jonathan’s experiences and discover why support, connection and boundaries matter for a healthier working life. If you found this episode helpful, please like, subscribe and share to help more educators discover Beat Teacher Burnout. 00:00 Introduction 02:48 Supporting School Leaders in Crisis 04:47 Understanding Burnout 08:57 Prioritising Wellbeing 12:21 The Guilt of Taking Time Off 16:14 Finding Support 23:34 A Practical Strategy for Managing Stress ___ Connect with Lucy and Jonathan Coy: Website: https://headteacherchat.com Linkedin:   / headteacherchat   Instagram:   / headteacherchat   Twitter: https://x.com/Headteacherchat Email: info@headteacherchat.com Youtube:   / @schoolleadercommunity   ✨Get your The 40 day challenge Journal here: Build the habits, mindset and energy to become your best self: https://amzn.to/3Ptd8jQ ✨ Follow Rowena: 👉Instagram:   / rowenaphicks   👉Facebook:   / 61552987182926   👉LinkedIn:   / rowenaphicks   👉Website: https://www.rowenahicks.com — Subscribe to the Beat Teacher Burnout Podcast 🎧 New episodes drop bi weekly to help you reduce stress, prevent burnout, and lead with clarity and energy. Listen here on: 👉Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2unYCtc... 👉Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... 👉Youtube:    / @authorrowenahicks   — Looking for Rowena’s books? Explore all books here: 👉https://www.rowenahicks.com/books Buy on Amazon: 👉The Burnout-Busting Teachers' Journal: https://amzn.to/3Ar6piV 👉Teach, Flourish, Thrive: Break Free From Burnout : https://amzn.eu/d/0NCDubg Not sure where to start, book a consultation call with Rowena here: https://calendar.app.google/y1D862D8S... — #TeacherBurnout #TeacherWellbeing #Education #MentalHealthInEducation #TeacherLife #SEN #SchoolLeadership #Headteacher #EducationWellbeing